John
P. Hicks, was born in Cornwall England. March 4, 1838, and died at Big
Run. Pa., Feb. 3. 1912. He came with his parents, Charles and Elizabeth
Hicks, to America when he was but four years old, and settled near
Cleveland, Ohio. They belonged to the New Connexion branch of Methodism.
Brother Hicks was licensed to preach in 1866, admitted on trial in 1867,
into full connection and ordained deacon by Bishop Ames in 1869, and
elder in 1871, by Bishop Simpson. He married Miss Priscilla Syphrit,
Sept. 4, 1873.

One
child was born to them, Mrs. Eva Hicks Jeffers, deceased. He leaves his
wife, three grandchildren, one brother and two sisters.

He
labored as a faithful minister of the Gospel of Christ forty three
years; and even after his superannuation in 1910, he was in constant
activity and labors in the church he loved so well. He was called by the
District Superintendent at various times to supply work in different
places on the District. Last fall [1911] he was asked to go to
Clarington, one of his former charges, and he had one of the blessed
times of his life. They brought to him their children—nineteen in
all—that he might lay his hand upon them in holy baptism and bless
them.

He was
a “fisher of men,” andGod
gave to him some souls of large helpfulness. T. D. Collins, of Nebraska,
Pa., the liberal giver to our Missions, was among his converts. This
instance, referred to by Mr. Collins, himself, on the Conference
platform about twenty years ago, gave the writer his first sight and
knowledge of him whose memoir is here written. He began his work in the
itinerancy at Venango City and closed it at Valier having served
twenty-three charges. Last summer he and his faithful wife settled at
Big Run, to remain the latter part of their life. Both he and Mrs. Hicks
labored with the church here in all its services. He taught a class of
boys in the Sunday School, was always with the pastor in the pulpit, and
assisted in the services, attended the special meetings, and on Friday
night before his death, which occurred on Saturday evening, his prayer
at the altar will not be forgotten for its exultation and pleadings. He
was at the parsonage nearly every day, to inquire after the health of
the pastor and his family, as he was the day of his death, to inquire
after the health of the pastor’s wife, and to leave his parting advice
and blessing We loved him, and miss him as a friend and father, as a man
of God who had but one work, for he said: “When I entered the
ministry, I did so for life, only to preach Jesus Christ unto the world
to save sinners.” He was faithful to this “calling” unto the last.
He “walked with God,” and died the “death of the righteous.” He
took his leave in haste, without a farewell spoken. He went at the
summons of his God.

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